Our next guest for Women’s History Month, Tinita Cole, American Federation of Government Employees 6th District National VA Council Representative, joined America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about her journey through the union while dealing with discrimination and how the union helped her.
Seeing the union difference at a young age with both parents working with unions, Cole joined the AFGE as soon as possible after beginning work with the VA. After working at the VA and informing her coworkers of the benefits of a union, she began working up the ladder within the union. Cole talked about the discriminatory practices she faced while trying to progress due to being a female person of color and a union member, and how her union has supported and empowered her.
Cole served as President of AFGE Local 2209 at the Dayton VA Medical Center for nine years. During her time as president, she helped protect all the employees in the hospital, except for the RNs and managers, work condition issues, discipline, discrimination and leave issues. The medical center is a full-service facility with everything a normal hospital would have, including a surgery center and long-term healthcare solutions. It has been in use since the Civil War. Cole talked about her history of contract negotiations with various directors and how thankful she is the new director is union-friendly.
In late 2023, the VA and the AFGE members at the VA Council earned a new contract. Cole said the new contract rewrote all but one of the previous contract bylaws and greatly improved member benefits. She believes this contract is one of the best for government employees nationwide. She discussed some new pieces of the contract, including how it compares to the previous one.
Listen to the show above to hear more about Cole’s journey.